Dorchester redevelopment plans explained by West Dorset District Council - with shops and restaurants proposed for Fairfield site

The concern over lack of communication by West Dorset District Council came at a meeting at South Walks House yesterday to discuss the future development for the town – which saw hundreds of people attend.

The council's strategic director, Martin Hamilton, outlined how Dorchester’s future could look and the challenges it was facing, as he warned action was needed now.

Mr Hamilton is pictured below talking to residents.

Building shops and restaurants on the Fairfield (market) site is the main focus of the vision, with Charles Street having one main food shop and car parking.

This new approach comes after a long history of failed schemes to reinvigorate the town centre, and it is the first new bid since since developer Simons pulled out of the Charles Street plans in 2015 after the scheme was deemed not to be financially viable.

Despite assurances that the public will be consulted every step of the way in this new plan, residents remained cautious.

Mike Joslin has lived in Dorchester for 36 years.

Speaking at the meeting he said: “My main interest is communication. I am encouraged, I see some real changes here but I do urge you to listen to us.

“We have had a terrible spell of miscommunication with West Dorset District Council and it has left some open sores. Do not miss the opportunity to listen to people’s ideas.”

Another member of the public raised the issue of more than 2,000 people opposing the council’s move to South Walks House, and being ignored.

Responding to concerns, Mr Hamilton said: “The idea is to engage the public over this entire process, but not everyone is going to be happy at every stage of the way.”

Residents also raised their concerns of the future of the historical market.

One resident said: “I think it’s very commendable that Dorchester is looking towards the future however I find it amazing that plans seem to be going ahead without certainty of where the market should go.”

Mr Hamilton assured the public that the market is a “top priority” for the development plans.

He explained that Dorchester has “stiff competition” with a high percentage of the spend it could be getting going to some of the larger centres in the area like Bournemouth, Poole and Yeovil.

He outlined basic ideas that could see a food store site on Charles Street, leaving the majority of the site for parking.

A MUCH bigger development is envisaged for Fairfield car park.

A basic plan sees one big anchor store with a range of other shops and restaurants with a two-level car park with 400 spaces.

Mr Hamilton said: “We need to create a significant draw for the town and strengthen the retail offer at Brewery Square. It needs to attract new spend and not move spend around the town.”

He added: “Doing nothing is not an option. We need to do something now to plan for the future health of the town.

“The concern for me and for many of us on the council is if we don’t take some action we easily see the offer in the town centre deteriorating and it’s very hard to recover from that happening.”

Mr Hamilton also spoke of concerns over parking and how the Fairfield site and Charles Street site account for 30 per cent of the town centre off-street parking.

He also revealed that major chains do want to invest in the town and there has also been interest from hotel chains which “paint a positive future”.

Further studies in to the archaeology of the Fairfield site have also been commissioned and will see more exploratory trenches this side of Christmas.